Piston for cylinders of steam engines.



PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908.

j No. 880,361.

E. M. 000K. PISTON FOR CYLINDERS 0F STEAM ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. l5 1906.

WIHIII 18% 1 M eases attorney EDWARD M. COOK, OF OBERLIN, OHIO.'

PISTON FOR CYLINDERS OF STEAM ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed Augustlfi. 1906- serial 110.330.715-

Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, EDWARD M. COOK, a citizen" of the United States, residing at Oberlin, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pistons for Cylinders of Steam- Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pistons for the cylinders of steam engines, air compressors and the like, and the object of the invention is to provide a steam and air-tight joint be tween the piston and the walls of the cylinder in which it operates.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the said invention consists in providing a piston with expansion rings of novel and improved con struction, said rings being adapted for engagement with-the walls of the cylinder to constitute an air and steam-tight packing.

The invention further consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention; it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings: Figure 1' is a plan view of a piston ring embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective detail ,view of one of the segments or sections entering into the construction of the piston ring. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of an expansion spring used in connection Wlth the ring. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the plston ring. Fig. 5 is aside elevation of a piston embodying in its construction a plurality of the improved rings. Fig. 6 is a planviewillustrating a piston ring of slightly modified construction. Fig.- 7 is a sectional detail view taken on the plane indicated by the line 7-7 in Fig. 6.

Corresponding parts'in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The improved piston ring R' is made up of a plurality of segments or sections of which any desired number may be used; thus in Fig. l of the drawings a ring composed of six segments S, S has been shown, while Fig. 6 illustrates a ring composed of only three se merits, here designated S.

ach segment S or S is composed of two members oi parts 1 and 2 disposed inparallel relation and each integrally joined at its inner end to the inner end of the other; one set of members forming one side and the other set the opposite side of the body of the ring. The outer ends of the members 1 and 2 project in opposite directions, and the segments when assembled fit together in such a manner as to break joint. The ends of one' member, 1, are cut radiall to the ring as indicated at 3 while the ends. of the companion member 2 are approximately tangential to the ring as indicated at4. The ends 1 thus constitute stops to limit the inward movement of the segments which constitute the ring, while the ends4 form scarf joints and contact faces on which the segments are adapted to ride as the ring expands and contracts under variations of temperature and to compensate for wear.

P in Fig. 5 of the drawings designates a piston which is made up of a plurality of plates 5, 5 connected. or assembled by the piston rod 6; the improved piston rings being inter/posed between-the plates 5, 5; any desired number of the piston rings R, from one upward, may be employed in the make up of the piston, Each ring is provided with an expansion spring which, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings may consist of a plain annular band open on one side as at 8, and which has a tendency to expand-in size. The s ring 7 will serve to expand the piston ring, orcing the segments into engagement with the .walls of the cylinder in which the piston operates, the spring being confined between the piston plates 5, 5. The plates 5 are in the form .of disks and they are held together to clamp the packing rings between them by means of bolts 5*, whichpass through the plates at points inside the packing rings. A nut 5 is applied to the end of the rod 6 to further clamp the plates against the packing rm s.

l inder the modified construction illustratedin Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, each piston ring is provided with a plurality of expanding springs, here designated 9, said springs being constructed of a resilient wire of circular cross section; the segments S composing the ring are in this instance provided with grooves 10 upon their inner faces shoulder 3 in the I Having thus described the invention what forming seats for the rings 9 which are thereby secured against displacement.

I wish it to be understood that the opposite ends of the'segmental members are cut away to provide reversely arranged recesses, one of which is s uared at its terminal and inwardly incline the segment approximately the length-thereof, so as to provide a slanting shoulder 3 the recess on the opposite end of the segment has its terminal downwardly and outwardly inclined to provide a pointed end, said recesses is further provided with a squared ody of the segment.

is claimed is:

A piston comprising the rod with a plurality of plates thereon, rings constructed in segmental form and interposed between the 20 plates, each of said segments having their into the body of opposite ends cut-away to provide .reversely arranged recesses, one of which is provided with a squared terminal and also with an inwardly inclined shoulder which extends approximately the length of the body of the segment, the recess at the other end of the segment having a squared shoulder formed in the body of the segment, the terminal of said recess being arran ed downwardly and outwardly inclined wlth a pointed' end, expansible and contracting springs, arranged on the inner surfaces of the rings, and means -for securing the plates and rings together,

substantially as s ecified. V

In testimony w ereof, I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD M. COOK. Witnesses:

Louis E. BURGNER,

HARRIETT E. BURGNER. 

